Men, It’s Time We Had A Chat About Your Health “Down There”

Men are famous for ignoring problems in their reproductive organs. But ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away. In fact, they usually only get worse.

Here are some problems that you can’t ignore down there and what to do about them.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction has traditionally been the butt of many jokes. But doctors are increasingly worried about what it might indicate. Men who have poor circulation to their penis could also have poor circulation to other parts of their body, suggesting that they might be at risk of something more dangerous than a mere lack of performance in the bedroom.

According to Raj Persad, “erectile problems are actually a very clear barometer of cardiovascular health.” If the arteries running to the penis are blocked, he continues, there’s a good chance that more important arteries that supply the heart are also blocked.

According to cardiology Graham Jackson who works at the Sexual Advice Association, men with erectile dysfunction usually develop heart disease in three to five years. If you are in your 40s, he says, and you’re suffering from problems in the bedroom, there’s a good chance you’ll have some sort of cardiac problem by the time you hit your early fifties. It’s a good idea, therefore, to ditch all the meat and sugar and go onto an unprocessed diet, rich in beans and vegetables.

Lack Of Sex Drive

According to Michael Dooley, a consultant gynecologist, men who notice a dramatic decrease in their sex drive could be experiencing problems with their endocrine systems. One of the issues he points to is called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, where the testicles don’t produce enough male hormones. It’s not related to vasectomy – instead, it’s usually a consequence of a profligate lifestyle.

A lack of sex drive, Dooley continues, can lead to relationship problems and can make it difficult for men to retain their role around the house. Often, the condition that Dooley describes is paired with a loss of smell. The pituitary gland doesn’t release enough male hormones, which affects both the nose and the reproductive organs. He suggests that men who think they might be having problems go see their GP.

A Lump On The Testicles

Testicular cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among men, and most of us have at some point been shown what to do to check to see if we have a lump. Lumps on the testicles are actually quite a common occurrence among boys and are often not cancerous. But there are some cases that are, and these need to be dealt with quickly. Each year, more than 10,000 men in the US are diagnosed with testicular cancer, and it is something that is most common among men between the ages of 20 and 35.

Blood In The Urine

Blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder cancer. What’s more, it;s usually painless.

Bladder cancer is a particularly nasty cancer. Only around half of men with bladder cancer survive five years, so it’s essential that it is dealt with immediately.